RISMedia's Real Estate Magazine

JUL 2018

Real Estate magazine is the industry's leading source for real estate news and information since 1980. Published monthly by RISMedia, Real Estate magazine offers timely and relevant real estate news to the industry's top brokers and agents.

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32 July 2018 RISMedia's REAL ESTATE
Riley; 2018 Vice President of Association Affairs Colleen
Badagliacco; 2018 Vice President of Government Affairs
Kenny Parcell; and Immediate Past President Bill Brown.
From the outset, Goldberg has been in lock-step with
this team to put several significant changes in place in
the 11 months since he officially became CEO.
Why has this team been able to accomplish so
much so quickly? For starters, excellent and open
communication.
"The most critical part of making this work is the
amount of communication we have with each other
as a leadership team," says Goldberg. "We constantly
talk about issues. We don't wait to have monthly meet-
ings—we communicate in real-time. The other thing that
makes us different is that
we're laser-focused on be-
ing out with our members
and listening. We listen be-
fore we talk."
Chemistry plays a big
role, too. "We have a vari-
ety of skill sets among us,"
says Mendenhall. "That
gives us such a broader
depth of knowledge. We
trust each other and can
rely on different people for
different tasks."
Plus, says Goldberg, "Our
leadership team really like
each other, and we respect
each other's opinions. That
goes a long way when you're
collectively trying to do the
right thing for members. It
goes a long way toward mov-
ing things forward fast and
efficiently."
Of course, with rapid
change comes discomfort
and missteps, especially when those changes impact
1.3 million people. Goldberg, Mendenhall and the lead-
ership team have confronted criticism with resilience,
however, sticking to their guns when they know decisions
are in the best interest of members, and stepping aside
when revisions need to be made.
Mendenhall eloquently and passionately addressed
the difficulties—and the necessity—of change dur-
ing her opening remarks at the NAR 360 presentation
during May's Legislative Meetings in Washington, D.C.:
"Change involves fear," she told the standing-room-only
crowd of 2,500. "But we're not divided by hateful com-
ments; we're united. We can't be afraid of criticism and
comments and missteps. We have to own the responsi-
bility of what this association is and what we're doing."
According to Mendenhall, much of the criticism aimed
at NAR of late boils down to misinformation. "A lot of
the pushback is caused by a delay in information and
a lack of knowledge," she explains. "The more open we
are and the more we talk about where we're headed, the
greater insight it gives people. As we continue to do that
more and more, members will be pleased, because the
changes we're making are the things they've told us they
want and need."
This commitment to increased, more transparent com-
munication among the NAR leadership team and staff
and with members is central to NAR's overarching goal to
knock down the "ivory tower" and become a truly mem-
ber-centric organization.
To that end, Goldberg has
worked tirelessly to open
the channels of communi-
cation to brokers, agents
and industry partners, per-
sonally engaging with more
than 10,000 members and
industry stakeholders on
social media and meeting
in person with more than
100 boards and associa-
tion executives, as well
as directly responding to
emails.
While the path of open
communication and trans-
parency hasn't been the
easiest one to travel, it's
exactly what Goldberg
wants.
"I wouldn't trade this
open and transparent ap-
proach for anything," he
says. "What comes with it
is an opportunity to edu-
cate members and, there-
fore, they will have an opinion and get engaged. It may
not be what we want to hear, but if members are listening
and participating, and we have an opportunity to hear
what they're saying, that's a good thing. That's the price
you pay for transparency, and I say, bring it on."
CHANGING FROM WITHIN
In order to truly effect change for the membership mass-
es, Goldberg knew it meant looking within, as well.
"When I became CEO, I talked about my vision for turn-
ing the association 'inside out'—for creating a radically
member-centric organization. We must become not only
the National Association of REALTORS®, but also, more
importantly, the National Association for REALTORS®. "
"OUR LEADERSHIP TEAM REALLY LIKE EACH
OTHER, AND WE RESPECT EACH OTHER'S
OPINIONS. THAT GOES A LONG WAY WHEN
YOU'RE COLLECTIVELY TRYING TO DO THE
RIGHT THING FOR MEMBERS.
IT GOES A LONG WAY TOWARD MOVING
THINGS FORWARD FAST AND EFFICIENTLY."
- BOB GOLDBERG, CEO
CEO Bob Goldberg shares a laugh
during the photo shoot with 2018 NAR
President Elizabeth Mendenhall and
President-Elect John Smaby.